He warned that continued monoculture in paddy and cotton is depleting groundwater, damaging soil health, and increasing farmer distress.

In a detailed representation to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, he said farmers are not responsible for monocropping trends. "Policies favour only a few crops with assured procurement. This exposes other crops to market risks," he said.

The letter proposed structural reforms. These include state-level base price declaration and procurement support for crops such as pulses, millets, oilseeds, and vegetables.

Heavy traffic jam on Hyderabad - Vijayawada Highway near Chityal

Base Price Assurance Key to Diversification

The expert suggested that Telangana declare remunerative base prices for diverse crops before each sowing season. He said current Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations mainly cover paddy and wheat. This leaves other crops vulnerable to price crashes.

He recommended fixing base prices using the C2 cost formula with at least a 50 per cent margin. "Early price announcements give farmers confidence to diversify. Late announcements serve little purpose," the letter said.

The representation also referred to similar suggestions by Telangana Seed Development Corporation chairman Anvesh Reddy.

Procurement and Infrastructure Reforms

To ensure price stability, he urged the state to procure at least 10 per cent of the marketable surplus of selected crops. Agencies such as Civil Supplies Corporation, MARKFED, and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) can handle procurement.

He also suggested setting up procurement centres at the mandal level. The government can link procured produce to the public distribution system (PDS), mid-day meals, and Anganwadi schemes. This will help create steady demand.

The letter flagged the weak seed system for non-paddy crops. It recommended community seed banks and participatory trials through Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University. It also proposed a 30 per cent allocation for diverse crops in seed distribution.

Need to Reform Irrigation and Soil Systems

The expert said current irrigation practices in major command areas encourage paddy monoculture. Fixed water schedules limit crop choices. He suggested pilot projects to allow flexible crop planning. At least 20 per cent of land should shift to non-paddy crops.

He also proposed a soil health transition programme. This includes crop rotation, legume-based farming, and expansion of natural farming methods.

On credit and insurance, he called for revised finance norms and wider crop insurance coverage for mixed cropping. He also suggested interest subsidies for farmers adopting diversification.

Focus on Local Processing and Extension Services

The representation stressed the need for local processing units. These include dal mills, oil expellers, and millet processing units at the mandal level. Women's self-help groups and FPOs can manage these units.

He also urged the government to strengthen agricultural extension services. Officials should promote crop rotation and intercropping. Rythu Bharosa Kendras need updated training and dedicated diversification officers.

Rethinking Agricultural Priorities

The expert asked the government to redefine how it measures agricultural success. Instead of focusing only on paddy output, it should track crop diversity, soil health, and groundwater levels.

He warned that monoculture has already reduced groundwater levels in districts like Ranga Reddy, Medak, Mahabubnagar, and Nalgonda. Soil fertility and biodiversity are also declining.

"The government can implement base price support and limited procurement before kharif 2026. These steps can change farmer behaviour within two seasons," the letter said.

The recommendations draw from policy experiences in states such as Karnataka and Odisha. They are based on an analytical paper on monocropping trends released in April 2026.